Neighbours of Abigail Witchalls, who was stabbed in the neck while walking with her toddler son in a country lane, will today offer prayers of thanksgiving for the birth of her baby boy.

The 26-year-old was in the early stages of pregnancy when she was attacked on April 20 while pushing her son Joseph in a buggy along a lane near her home in Little Bookham, Surrey.

The assault left her with a damaged spine and she spent five months in the spinal cord injury centre at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in north London.

Mrs Witchalls and her husband, Benoit, yesterday announced the birth of their son at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London. He had been due around Christmas.

They said both mother and baby, who weighed 5lb 6oz, were healthy following a Caesarean section.

Villagers will attend a service at Abigail's local church, Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in Little Bookham.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Everybody is happy for poor Abigail, it's a wonderful thing, we thought it was going to be closer to Christmas.

"The local people see it as an answer to prayer, they are rejoicing and giving thanks."

Mrs Witchalls, a devout Catholic, has told police she turned to see her attacker holding a knife to her son's throat as she tried in vain to open a high gate in front of her.

With the boy at risk, she walked towards her would-be killer before being stabbed in the neck and left with a three-inch wound.

Neighbours who heard her screams found her slumped in the mud with Joseph out of his buggy and next to his mother.

Her injuries were so serious that the last rites were administered in hospital.

Surrey Police have passed a file containing details of their investigation to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Richard Cazaly, 23, has been treated as a suspect in the case since his apparent suicide from an overdose in Scotland just days after the attack.

Cazaly, from Fleet, Hampshire, had been living in a house on Water Lane, Little Bookham, close to where the attack took place, and had similarities to the description given by the victim.

Although Mrs Witchalls failed to pick him out in a photo identity parade, Surrey Police believe they have evidence linking Cazaly to the attack.

Abigail was likely to have been able to have a normal birth despite being paralysed, a consultant neurosurgeon said.

Donald Campbell, who has a private practice in London's Harley Street, said the ability to have a baby was "not really compromised".

He said: "The only thing is you can't push because you can't use your abdominal muscles. But the womb itself will contract normally and the baby will be born."

Mr Campbell said there may have been a slightly higher risk of a blood clot, but staff would have been aware of that.

April 20

Mrs Witchalls and her 21-month-old son Joseph leave a mother-and-toddler group at a local nursery at 3.30pm.

At around 3.45pm Mrs Witchalls first sees her attacker in Little Bookham, Surrey. When she is three-quarters of the way along the track, she turns and notices that the same car has pulled up behind her and the man is coming towards her.

Mrs Witchalls runs along the lane, but cannot open the gate at the end. When she turns she sees that he has grabbed Joseph and is holding a knife to his throat.

The man demands she come towards him and when she does he stabs her once in the back of the neck. The attacker pushes the buggy, with Joseph still in it, on top of Mrs Witchalls and runs off.

APRIL 22

A man and woman are arrested. The 28-year-old man and 29-year-old woman went voluntarily to police but are later released and eliminated from the inquiry.

APRIL 25

Still unable to talk, Mrs Witchalls mouths a statement to police from her hospital bed. The next day, she describes the attacker and her ordeal to officers.

MAY 4

Mrs Witchalls is transferred to a special spinal injuries unit at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London.

MAY 11

Police reveal suspect Richard Cazaly, 23, has died after a suspected paracetamol overdose. It is thought he drove to Scotland where he died on April 30.

MAY 18

Abigail says some sensation is returning to parts of her body. Her husband, Benoit, speaks publicly on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, following a reconstruction.

NOVEMBER 3

Abigail is discharged from Hospital. Staff says she can breathe, speak freely, and has some movement in her right arm.

NOVEMBER 11

Mrs Witchalls gives birth to a baby boy. The family are said to be "delighted".